Steve Barton

The outcome of their match at table-toppers Copford on Saturday will be critical to Haverhill Cricket Club’s chances of winning the title.

Skipper Joe Woodley feels that while victory for third-placed Haverhill would not make them favourites to win Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Division Two, defeat against a team whom they lost to on May 2 would all but end their title hopes.

He said: “It’s a big game in terms of finding out just how good we are.

“To lose twice to Copford in the season would be terminal in terms of our chances of actually winning the league outright.

“We can’t win the league on Saturday but we can certainly all but lose it.

“It will be difficult without Dan Poole (away on holiday, to be replaced by Joey Kettle) but victory would set us up for a final push towards trying to push for the top two places.”

Too many times this season, Haverhill’s middle order has had to rescue the innings after the loss of early wickets, but Woodley retains his faith in the top three.

He added: “The batting in the first 15 overs has been a concern but (Sam) Powell seems to come right in the big games on the big stage and I fully back him as ever.

“It’s going to be extremely hard to win in their backyard but we’ve got nothing to lose as they are the ones on top, they are the ones with the league at their mercy.